Sharpening device



Jan. 25, 1949. Y I B, H, JOHNSTON 2,459,945

' v SHARPENING DEVICE Filed March 4, 1946 guy z. I. @2 n A 3 8 *A f6 .f5-

lll/IIIA mmwwm,

ATTO/Mfrs Patented Jan. 25, 194.9V

UNITED STATES e PATENT O FFlCE sHummmNo DEVICE Benjamin n. .mlmswmf oklahoma City, oies.

Application March 4, 1946, Serial'No. 651,762

6 Claims.

Thisy inventlonrelates toa device .for sharpeny ing razor blades, and moreparticularlyto-a device for straightening and drying the edge of' a blade adapted toibo-,used in a safety razor.

` After a razor blade has. been used.. portions of thel edge thereof will. tend to become Yout of align ment and while not dull.. prevent smooth cutting by the blade when in use. These misaligned portions will tend to collect water and unless the blade isdriedafter. use; theiedge of the blade will rust and' thus` tendv to cause the blade. tolose its usefulness. With the devices new in use requiring. aA` honing action', the bladeis Worn away by abrasion and: the blade: soon becomes useless. The, misaligned places are very minute and it requiresv a device" of fine. precisionto realign the 'cuttingy edgeA of the blade to restore the same to itsoriginal' shape.y

The principal objects of thev present invention are to provide a device for sharpening safety fr razor blades by'a simultaneous pressing action on both sides of the blade between .two smooth. .surfaces and withdrawing'the bla-de'. to straighten the edge of. the blade; toprovideI-a device; for drying the edge of the bladeat the time of straightening the same; .to provide ya device off this character which contactsthe. edge of. the blade and has a lateral moving' action' instead' ofi longitudinal as in former devices; and. to'prcvide adevice of this charaoter'simple, economical.to'manufacture, and efficient inY use.

In accomplishing these and other objects ofthe present invention, I have: provided: improved; details oi structure.. the. pref-.erred form of `,which is illustrated in the accompanying: drawings, where- Fig. 1 is a. perspective view of myrin'vention showing a razor blade in position for sharpening.

Fig. 2 is a` vertical cross `sectionthrough the device showing, the bladel inserted therein ready forsharpenlng.

Fig. 3 is a transverse cross section through the device showing thesmoothing jaws about to contact thecutting edgeof theblade. f

F1224 is a transverse 'crossy section through the devicer showing the smoothing jaws in contact with the blade.

Fig.v 5 is a plan View Aparticulfarly'illustrating the smoothing: jaws and the trunnions on the endthereof` engaging thespread'er.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of theY spreader particularly-'showing the carri surface for conta-cting the trunnions of the smoothing members.

Referring more in detailto the drawings:

t designates a sharpening devicel embodying the features, of my invention comprising a case or housingi '21, a frame-3- slidablewithinthe houslf ing by'ahandleY fl.y The. housingv substantially rectangular nr shape; havngsines 5k vand Bf and ends 1 andv i and lhaving' aciosed bottom 81pm 2 vided with an opening l@ for the handle shaft H of the handle i'. The top of the housing is provided with a plate i2 secured to the ends of the housing by screws orA the like 3. The plate is y provided with a longitudinal slot lli for a purpose later described. The ends of the housing are provided at substantially the centers thereof near the upper part'with thickened walls l5 and i6 provided with openings ll and I8 adapted to be closed by plates I9 vand 2li by any suitable means, such as screws o1' the like, for a purpose later described. The housing may be made of any suitable material, such as Wood, metal, plastic or the like.

The jaw carrying frame 3 operable within the housing comprises guides 22 and 23 having their ends adapted to slide within each end of the housing 2 as best illustrated in Fig. I2. The guides are provided with openings at substantially the centers thereof for receiving a shaft 24 which is rigidly secured in said openings. The inner sides of the case are provided with perpendicular slots 25 and '25 adapted to receive the ends of the guides to form a trackv/ay for the guides in moving up and down in the case as later described. The Vtrackways run parallel to each other and must be smooth to provide accuracy of operation.

Rigidly secured to substantially the center of the shaft 2A is a collar 26 having a boss 26provided with an internally threaded bore 2l adapted to receive the threaded end 23 of the shaft ll of the handle 4; The handle 4 may be swedgecl onto the shaft 24' or otherwise suitably secured thereto. Located upon the shaft 24 are collars 3U and 3l 7 and 32 and 3'3. The collars are loosely attached tothe shaft and providedwith arms IME and 35 and 36 and 31 which extend upwardly toward the open end of the housing and are substantially V-shaped, the lower part oi the V being slightly longer than the upper part. The upper ends of the arms carry elongated jaws 38 and 3g which extend lengthwise rof the housing and parallel to each other' to form mating faces for contacting `the blade as .later described. The outer ends 0f the jaws are provided with trunnions G and 1li also for a purpose later described.

The jaws 38 and 39 are preferably made o brassv or steel and must be extremely accurate. The trunnions. must be smoothly iinished and hardened and the face of the jaws milled t-o a smooth surface and be a true Cylindrical section coaxial with the trunnions on the ends 'thereof` and parallel tothe bearing axis. The jaws are preferably made from one piece of material and are vsubstantially semi-circular in shape as best illustrated in Figs; 3 and 4. The jaws may be seV cured to the arms by any suitable methodbut preferably the arms carry cylindrical bars es which engage in semi-circular grooves-44 of 'the jaws, and the bars are secured therein by brazing or the like.

I preferably provide a facing d5 for the jaws 38 and 3S of leather, woven linen, cottoncloth, or other suitable material, which is secured thereto by glue or other suitable manner.

In order to provide inward tension onthe arms and jaws respectively', I preferably provide a C-shaped spring Lil, made preferably from spring steel and having ends ntting in longitudinal grooves 48 in the jaws E18 and 39 and secured thereto by brazing or the like., The spring is adapted to be located between the respective pairs of arms and 3E-3i The jaws'38 and 39 when assembled on the shaft 2li must meet exactly the whole length of their opposing faces on a line parallel to the axis of the shaft.

The openings Il and I3 in the ends of the houring are substantially trapeaoidal-shape and are Vprovided at each end with slots and 5I closed at the inner ends by lugs or Ystops 52 `and 53 on the respective sides of the openings. Located within the openings il' and I8 are spreader mem bers 55 and 56. The spreaders are also of substantially trapezoidahshape conforming to the shape of the openings ifi and I3 wherein the lower ends are narrower than the upper ends and the sides diverge upwardly. The spreaders are provided on their respective ends with lugs 'i'and 53 adapted to operate in the slots bij and 5I and engage against the lugs 52 and 5S. The upper por tions of the inner faces of the spreaders areVV undercut to provide downwardly and inwardly sloping cam surfaces 6G and @i adapted to engage the trunnions and cooperate with the Vsides of the sprcaders in controlling movement ci the jaw members as will later be described. The outer faces of the spreaders are provided with recesses B2 and 63 adapted to receive coil springs til and 65 having one end engaging against the inner side of the plates I9 and 243 on the respective ends of the housing andthe opposite ends against the spreadeis to urge the spreaders inwardly against 'the lugs 52 and 53 of the housing. g f

I also preferably provide plates lil and 'II to bridge the innerside openings I'I and I8 in the housing and against which the inner faces of the spreaders may seat when pressed inwardly by the springs $35 and 65. The plates are preferably made of sheet material and have flanges which are secured to the inside of the ends of the hous ing by screws or the like 33.

15 designates a blade clamp comprising two sheet-s of material 'I6 and 'Il adapted to lie iat on the top plate I2 of the housing. Ihe plates 'I5 and 'I'I Yare provided at their matingY edges with lateral anges 'ig-'i9 and dil--SI (Fig. 3) for providing clamping faces for the razor blade 82. Each face of the plates IB and 'il is provided on its inner face substantially midway from one side thereof with a longitudinal lug or rib t3 offset from one another. The rib on each face is adapted to t in a groove 8d in the face of the plate opposite said rib. When `the blade 82 is placed between the clamping faces of the blade clamping plate the ribs will extend through the opening 85 in theblade to hold the Iblade rigidly in clamping position and the inner flanges 'I9 and v8| on the plates `are inserted in the longitudinal slot I4 of the plate I2. Spring clips BIS are provided on the respective sides of the housing for clamping the blade plates in place when inserted for use.

Operation of a device constructed as described is as follows: l I

After the razor blade has been inserted in the Vblade clamp 'I5 as shown in Fig. 1, the operator grasps the housing 2 with one hand and the handle d with the otheruandbyrpressing upwardly on the handle and downwardly on'fthehousing, the framework 3 including the arms and jaw Y members will be raised upwardly in the housing and the trunnions di) and ,diV on the respective ends of the jaw members being in contact with the dii/erging side faces of the spreaders will move the jaws apart until the trunnions reach and overridethe upper ends of said spreaders allowing the jaw members to move inwardly under pressure of the C-shaped spring 41 so the surfaces of the jaw members will contact the blade preferably about` le from the cutting edge. Then downward pull on thehandle member will cause the ends of the trunnions to move downwardly on theicam faces 6I! and BI forcing the vspreaders outwardly in theopenings I? and I8 compressing Vthe springs S4 and 65. Outward movement of the spreaders permits the trunnions to engager the inner iaces-ilof the spreaders on further downward movement of the handle mem'- ber until the trunnions reach a lposition adjacent the'lower ends ofthe spreaders where the width. of said spreaders permits same to move inwardly between said trunnions whereby said trunnions again engage the sides of the spreaders. The downward .pull causes the surfaces of the jaw members to make awiping action on the respective sides of the blade'until the faces of the jaw members pass the edge of the blade, thereby smoothing and realigningV the cutting edge of the blade and removing any moisture from the edge of the blade* When the spreaders have moved between thetrunnions at the end of the downward movement of the handle, said vhandle is moved upwardly with the trunnions in contactwith the diverging sides` of said spreaders 'to again `spread the jaws apart until the trunnions reach the upper ends of said spreaders. This action may be repeated several times'so that the cutting edge ofY the blade will-be entirely smoothed 'out and realigned for further use. When one edge of the ,blade has been sharpened the blade may be removed and reversed in the clamp'to sharpen the other edge. Y

I preferably subject the razor rblade to :the smoothing and drying action of my device after each use as I find I receive better results than leaving Vthe razor until just before use as is often the case. Y

Y While I have here described a device for con ditioning two-edged blades, it will be obvious my device may be adapted for conditioning single edge blades.

It will be obviousr from the foregoing that I have provided an improved device for sharpening safety razor blades whereby a pressure is applied on both sides of the cutting edge simultaneously, thereby straightening the edge of vtheblade and removing moisture therefrom and restoring the cutting edge of the vblade to its original form.

What I claim and Vdesire to secure' by Letters Patent is: f x 1. A device for conditioning the cutting edge of a razor bladecomprising, a housing having a closed bottom', side ,and end walls and an open top, said-end walls being provided withl an opening near the top ofthe housing, a frame reciprocable in said housing, means .for clamping a blade in the open'end of 4the housing, oppositely facing jawsV pivotally carried by the` frame, spreadershaving tapered side edges carried by the openings in the end walls, means for reciprocating said rame'in said housing, means on said jaws engaging the tapered side edges of the spreaders to separate said jaws upon movement of the frame toward the blade, said spreaders having cam surfaces engaging the means on the spreaders to cause said jaws to contact said above the cutting edge at the limit of travel of the frame toward said blade, whereby reciprocation of the frame away from the blade will draw the jaws across the edge of the blade to condition the same.

2. A device for conditioning the cutting edge of a razor blade comprising, a housing having one end. closed and provided with opening adapted to receive a handle, said housing having longitudinal slots in its walls, guides adapted to reciprocate in said slots, a shaft having its ends secured to said guides, a collar carried by the shaft having a centrally bored hub adapted to receive said handle, arms pivotally secured to the shaft, oppositely facing jaws secured to the outer ends of said arms having honing surfaces, trunnions on said arms, a spring urging said jaws together, means for holding a blade in the open encl of the housing, and spreaders carried by the housing and having cam surfaces engaging said trunnions to spread the jaws apart upon reciprocation of the frame by the handle in a direction toward the blade and to close said jaws for contacting the edge of the blade upon movement of the frame away from the blade, whereby the honring surfaces will be drawn across theedge of the blade to condition the same.

3. A device for conditioning the cutting 'edge of a razor blade comprising, a housing having one end closed and provided with an opening adapted to receive a handle, a frame reciprocable in said housing operable by the handle, said housing having longitudinal slots in its walls, said frame including guides adapted to reciprocate in said slots, a shaft having its ends secured to said guides, a collar carried by the shaft having a centrally bored hub adapted to receive said handle, arms pivotally secured to the shaft, oppositely facing jaws having honing surfaces secured to the outer ends of said arms, trunnions on said arms, a spring urging said jaws together, means for holding a blade in the open end of the housing, and spreaders carried by the housing and having cam portionsV engaging said trunnions to spread the jaws apart upon reciprocation of the frame toward the blade and having cam portions engaging the trunnions to move the jaws away from the blade, whereby the honing surfaces of the jaws will move across the edge of the blade by a wiping action to condition said edge upon reciprocation of said frame.

4. A device for conditioning the cutting edge of a razor blade comprising, a housing, means for holding the blade extended in the housing, stropping members, means for reciprocating the stropping members toward and away from the edge of the blade, trunnions on the stropping members, spreaders resiliently mounted in the housing, said spreaders having diverging faces adapted to be contacted by the trunnions upon movement of the stropping members toward the cutting edge oi the blade, and cam faces on the spreaders to be engaged by the trunnions to move the spreaders out of the path of the trunnions d 1 'ing movement of the stropping members away the blade, the reciprocating movement of the stropping members permitting the same to engage the cutting edge oi' said blade in a wiping action to condition said edge.

5. A device for conditioning the cutting edge of a razor blade comprising, a housing, means ior holding the blade extended in the housing, stropping members, means for reciprocating the stropping members toward and away from the edge of the blade, trunnions on the stropping members, spreader-s resiliently mounted in the housing, said spreaders having diverging faces adapted to be contacted by the trunnions upon movement of stropping members toward the cutting edge ci the blade, cam faces on the spreaders adapted to be engaged by the trunnions to move the spreaders out of the path of the trunnions during movement of the stropping members away from the blade, and means for holding the strop members in engagement with the blade whereby said members will be drawn over the edge of 'the blade when the stropping members are moved away from the blade.

6. A device for conditioning the cutting edge oi a razor blade comprising, a housing, means for holding the blade extended in the housing, stropping members, means for reciprocating the stropping members toward and awayfrom the edge of the blade, a substantially C-shaped spring 'engaging thestropping members to urge said `members together, trunnions on the stropping members, spreaders resiliently mounted in the housing, said spreaders having diverging faces adapted to be contacted by the trunnions upon movement of the stropping members toward the cutting edge of the blade, cam faces on the spreaders adapted to be engaged by the trunnions to move the spreaders out of the path of the trunnions during movement of the stropping members away from the blade, and means for holding the stropping membersV in engagement with the blade whereby said members will be drawn over the edge of the blade when the stropping members are moved away from the blade.

BENJAMIN H. JOHNSTON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the nie of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,557,601 Magee Oct. 20, 1925 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 460,686 Great Britain Feb. 2, 1937 i 466,872 Great Britain Sept. 4, 1935 '794,543 France Feb. 19, 1936 

